Hoa Lư was the capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1009. In 1010, the capital was transferred to Hanoi and Hoa Lư became known as the 'Ancient Capital'. It consisted of an Inner and Outer Citadel and included defensive earthen walls, palaces, temples and shrines. The surrounding limestone mountains served as a natural protection.

The citadel was destroyed and only some ruins remain. Some temples that were built to commemorate emperors Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Lê Đại Hành stil remain. The tomb of Đinh Tiên Hoàng is located on nearby Mã Yên Mountain, while the tomb of Lê Đại Hành sits at the foot of the mountain.

• Bái Đính Pagoda.
• Ban Long Pagoda.
• Chùa Nhật Trụ (First Column Pagoda) was built by Emperor Lê Đại Hành. Inside the temple you can see numerous artefacts from the 10th and 11th centuries.
• Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple is dedicated to emperor Đinh Tiên Hoàng, who was also known as Đinh Bộ Lĩnh. He grew up in the area during the reign of warlord Ngô Quyền. Đinh Bộ Lĩnh had a talent for government and military affairs and became a powerful warlord himself. After venturing into the Thiên Tôn Cave, where he received an oracle, he defeated his enemies and established the first imperial dynasty of Vietnam in 968. After his death, top general Lê Đại Hành defeated his rivals and established the Lê dynasty, which was Vietnam's second imperial dynasty.
  The temple was built in the 'noi cong ngoai quoc' style and it is located at the center of the ancient capital of Hoa Lư, on the grounds of the former main palace of the royal citadel. It includes Half-Moon Lake.
• The small Temple of Đinh Tiên Hoàng's Daughter is located close to Chùa Nhật Trụ. It was dedicated to the daughter of Emperor Đinh Tiên Hoàng. The emperor gave his daughter to talented court official Ngo Khanh. The couple ran off to the neighboring kingdom of Champa. Upon her return to Hoa Lư, the daughter was thrown into prison and later became a nun. When her father was assassinated, she committed suicide by jumping into a well near the pagoda.
• Đinh Tiên Hoàng Tomb.
• Lê Đại Hành Temple was dedicated to Lê Đại Hành, who was a high ranking military official in the 10th century. The temple was built in a similar way to the Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple and also features the same style of statues. The central chamber features a statue of Lê Đại Hành himself. A statue of Empress Dương Vân Nga is located to its left. She was the wife of Đinh Tiên Hoàng, but when he was assassinated, Lê Đại Hành married her. The temple of Lê Đại Hành is 200 m north of the temple of Đinh Tiên Hoàng. The Den Mountain serves as a scenic backdrop.
• Lê Đại Hành Tomb.
• Noi Lam Temple.
• According to legend, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh ventured into the Thiên Tôn Cave one day, where he received an oracle, who told him he would defeat all of his enemies. In 968, he indeed defeated his last enemy and unified the country. He became Vietnam's first emperor. The cave consists of an inner chamber, where immortals are venerated and an outer chamber dedicated to Buddha. The cave holds numerous valuable items, including a bell that was cast during the reign of Emperor Lê Hiển Tông. There is also a statue of Thiên Tôn, as well as several lacquered and gilded Buddhist statues. The cave's pillars and altars were sculpted out of the rock and feature stylized images of dragons, the motifs of the Lý dynasty. The area outside the cave has many fruit trees.
• Trang An Grottoes.

The festival of Hoa Lư is held every year in the third month of the lunar year. During the festival, a procession winds its way from the Hoang Long River to the temples of Đinh Tiên Hoàng (Đinh Bộ Lĩnh) and Lê Đại Hành (Lê Hoàn). The festival commemorates the history of Vietnam between 968, when Đinh Bộ Lĩnh proclaimed himself emperor and 1010, when the capital was moved to Hanoi. During the festival, games and a fair are held.

Hoa Lư Ancient Capital is part of the Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex and a UNESCO world heritage site. It is located in the village of Trường Yên Thượng, 90 km south of Hanoi.

Main Gate ©Rod Waddington

Gateway to the Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple ©Richard Mortel

Temple of Đinh Tiên Hoàng ©Richard Mortel

Temple of Đinh Tiên Hoàng ©Richard Mortel

Main Gate ©Richard Mortel

Temple of Lê Đại Hành ©Richard Mortel

Hoa Lư ©Allen Warren

Temple of Đinh Tiên Hoàng ©Richard Mortel